Improvement in car-couplings



JAMES B H-AR PER.

v m k? JAMES B. HARPER, OF ST. JOHN, MISSOURI.

iMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLlNGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,845, dated June 13,1871.

Figure l is a top view, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation.

This invention relates to an automatic oarcoupling, in which thedraw-heads are pivoted to the cars so as to be horizontally rotary, andin which the link is pivoted at one end to one of the draw-heads, andhas, at its other end, a pointed head with spirally-cut sides, whichhead, when two cars are coupled, enters the other draw-head, the lips ofwhich, actingon the spiral sides of the head, turn the same verticallyuntil it enters the cavity of the drawhead, after which the said headturns horizontally so far as to present its rear side to the inner sidesof the lips of the draw-head, and thus be held within the latter. Theinvention consists in the construction and arrangement of certain parts,as hereinafter described and as specifically stated in the claim.

Referring to the drawing, Ais the male drawhead, made of any desiredsize, and mounted on the firont end of a shaft, 0:, which "passesthrough horizontal parallel iron plates b I), placed at a suitableinterval apart crosswise of the frame B B, which is secured to the endof a car in any suitable manner. Near its front end the shaft a issupported on a box, 0, which rests on a cross-bar, d. A U-shaped link,6, fastens the shaft to the box 0 in such away as to allow the shaft allnecessary vertical play.

The shaft a is formed with an enlargement, f, in front of the forwardplate I), the purpose of which enlargement is to prevent the shaft frombeing driven backward too far through the plates. A rubber block, g,placed between the plates 1), surrounds the shaft c, and said plateshave sufiicient play in the frame B, in the line of the shaft, to enablethe springg to prevent severe shocks. The shaft a is supported upon apin formed by the welding'together of the ends of two wires or rods, hh, which enter a socket in the rear extremity of said shaft. From theirjunction at this point wires or rods h are bent entirely around, and

extend forward through the plates 1), one at each side of the shaft. Onsaid'wires, in front of the forward plate b, are placed rubber springs'i t, which are held in place by nuts, which springs also assist inpreventing shocks, and on keeping the shaft free, so that it may rotatesuiiiciently on its front and rear supports. The draw-head A is providedwith holes j, running entirely through it, to receive the ordinary pinwhen common couplings are used. A larger orifice, is, in rear of theholes j, also runs clear through the draw-head, and

in this orifice is received the large pin l, which pivots the link inwithin the draw-head. The link m may work up and down, and may be swungaside on this pivot so as to put it out of the way if the commoncoupling is used. The pin 1 is formed with an enlarged head above thelink, and it extends below the drawhead far enough to enable a weight,0, that is provided with a socket, which goes on outside of the pin, tobe secured to the latter by a key passing through both. This weightserves to keep the draw-head and link in their proper horizontalposition, and as a lever to enable the draw-head and link to be rotatedfor the purpose of uncoupling, by means of chains 12, fastened at oneend to the weight, and at the other ends to points in the sides, tops,or platforms of the cars. The weight also assists a spring that isplaced in the draw-head behind the latch in keeping the latter in ahorizontal position. The other or female drawhead, 0, is constructed,externally, the same as the draw-head A. Internally it differs from itsfellow in having lips g at its front end, said lips presenting beveledforward surfaces, and in having a larger cavity. It also difi'ers inposition from the other draw-head, being intended, except when thecommon coupling is used, to stand turned up sidewise, with its lips andcavity running vertically. To sustain it in this position it is securedto the front end of a bar, D, that is square in cross-section, said barhaving a cylindrical pin secured to its rear end, which pin passesloosely through a cross-bar, D, or through cross-plates like b b onshaft to, with rubber block like g, and em ables the bar and draw-headto rotate freely.

The link m has a spear-head, m, with spiral sides, which, when they comein contact, during the operation of coupling, with the beveled lips q,turn the link and draw-head up sidewise, so that the head m can passbetween the lips q.

As soon as the head m enters the cavity of the draw-head (l the weight 0causes the link and draw-head A to turn down into their formerhorizontal position, which being done, the cars are coupled. Tounoouple, reverse the process. The weight 0 is made adjustable on thebar which passes through the head of the link by means of a pin andtransverse perforations, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus the weight maybe adjusted to properly balance the draw-head and link. When one cargets off the track, the head m slips out of the draw head 0, and thusprevents the other car from sharing inthe disaster. The draw-headsAand(3 can be inserted with ease and without expcnse for adjustment in theplace of ordinary draw-heads. The head m is provided throughout theirlength so as to leave a clear cavity through the draw-head, incombination with the link m m, weight 0, bar and rotary draw-head A.

2. The rods' h h, forming at their junction a pivot-bearing for theshaft a of the draw-head,

and passing through the plates 1) I) and elastic blocks M, as shown anddescribed.

JAMES B. HARPER.

Witnesses ALBERT GRIFFEN, ROBERT 13. LITTLE.

